Box machine conveyor drive



Dec. 4, 1956 w. J. HOGAN BOX MACHINE CONVEYOR DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1954 INVENTOR VVv ZZIJam J 1? ATTORN :0

Dec. 4, 1956 w. J. HOGAN 2,772,768

BOX MACHINE CONVEYOR DRIVE Filed June 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN United States Patent 2,772,7 68 BOX MACHINE CONVEYOR DRIVE William J. Hogan, Dover, N. 1., assignor to Stapling Machines Co., Rockaway, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,305 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-203) This invention relates to wirebound box making machines of the general type disclosed in A. L. Rosenmund U. S. Patent No. 1,933,031, issued October 31, 1933, and more particularly concerns a novel mechanism for driving the conveyor bands of such machines at variable speeds in order to vary the longitudinal spacing of the staples along the box parts or box blanks as desired.

In machines of the type disclosed in said Patent No. 1,933,031, properly assembled cleats and side material or slots are carried by continuously moving conveyor bands beneath a transverse bank of stapling units which drive rows of staples over longitudinally extending binding wires, through the side material or slats and into the cleats to form box part units or complete wirebound box blanks.

Since the stapling units are operated at a predetermined cyclical rate, the spacing of the staples in each of the longitudinal rows along the work is dependent upon the speed of the continuously moving conveyor bands. Although it has been customary to provide the drive mechanism of the conveyor bands with interchangeable gears so that the machine may be set up to provide any staple spacing desired within fairly wide limits, it has not been possible to vary the staple spacing during operation of the machine with-out employing one of several alternative arrangements having certain disadvantages.

One of such arrangements, which is disclosed in A. L. Rosenmund U. S. Patent No. 2,482,370, issued September 20, 1949, involves the provision of a clutch in the drive mechanism of the stapling units so that the stapling units may be thrown out of operation independently of the conveyor bands.

In this arrangement, the conveyor bands are driven continuously at a speed determined by the least staple spacing required at any point in the work and the operation of the stapling units is interrupted to increase the spacing of the staples driven into the moving work, where a greater spacing is desired. This limitation of the speed of the conveyor bands to that commensurate with the minimum staple spacing is obviously an artificial restriction on the output of the machine.

Another such arrangement is to feed the work through two machines operating in tandem, with the first machine driving some of the staples in each of the longitudinal rows and the second machine driving the omitted staples. This latter arrangement makes it possible to operate the machines at high speed but, of course, involves a substantial increase in the amount of equipment required.

The present invention provides means for automatically varying the speed of the conveyor bands of a wirebound box making machine during operation of the machine in order to varythe spacing of the staples along the work as desired. The invention thus makes it possible for the first time to produce on a single machine a box part or box blank having non-uniform staple spacing, without restriction of the output of the machine.

In the particular embodiment of the machine shown and described herein, these desirable objectives are accomplished by a combination drive for the conveyor bands wherein a single driving motor is connectedto the conveyor bands throughtwo separate drive trains.

2,772,758 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 ice The primary drive train has a driving ratio such as to cause the conveyor bands to be driven at a desired basic speed, but includes an overrunning clutch which renders the primary drive train ineffective when the conveyor bands are independently driven at a speed in excess of such basic speed. The secondary :drive train has a variable speed ratio for driving the conveyor bands at a range of speeds in excess of the basic speed and includes a clutch which is engaged and disengaged under the control of a switch actuated by pattern control elements movable in synchronization with the conveyor bands.

When the clutch in the secondary drive train is disen-- gaged, the conveyor bands will be driven at the basic speed, and when the clutch is engaged, the conveyor bands. will be driven at the desired higher speed to increase the. staple spacing. The pattern control elements which actuate the control switch for the clutch in the secondary drive train are positioned so as to cause the speed of the conveyor bands to be increased and decreased at various positions along the Work to space the staples along the Work as desired.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the rear portion of a wirebound box making machine having a conveyor band drive mechanism embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of said machine showing particularly the drive mechanism referred to.

As will be recognized by those familiar with this art, Figure 1 shows the rear portion of a generally conventional wirebound box making machine having conveyor bands B driven by means of sprocket wheels W for conveying properly assembled box parts beneath a transverse bank .of stapling units, one of which is shown at S.'

The conveyor bands B and the stapling unit S are driven by an electric motor M through a primary drive train which includes a quadruple-grooved pulley 10 fixed on the motor shaft 12 extending from one end of the motor M, quadruple V-belts 14 and a quadruple pulley 16 which rotates freely on a main drive shaft 18 extending transversely of the machine between its side frames F. Fixed to one side of the quadruple pulley 16 is one plate of a solenoid actuated clutch 20 the other plate of which is fixed on the drive shaft 18, so that when the clutch 20 is energized, the main drive shaft 18 is driven by the motor M. This clutch 20 is controlled by a switch actuated by control blocks adjustably positioned either on one of the conveyor bands, as in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,304,510, or on a separate pattern chain driven in synchronism with the conveyor bands, as in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,482,370. In either case, the clutch 20 is normally engaged during the stapling of each entire box or crate blank (except in the making of blanks whose designs require exceptionally great staple spacings) and is disengaged in the intervals between adjacent box blanks. Fixed on an end of the main drive shaft 18 which projects beyond the side frame F of the machine are a pair of eccentric cams, one of which is shown in broken lines at 22. These cams cooperate with cam followers, one of which is generally indicated in broken lines at 24, which are interconnected by means of conthe stapling units S. It will thus be seen that whenever the clutch is engaged, the motor M will cause the staple formers and drivers of the stapling units S to be driven in unison to drive staples at uniform intervals into the work as it is moved continuously through the machine by the conveyor bands B.

Integral with the aforementioned quadruple pulley 16 is a sprocket 46 which engages a chain 43 which also engages another sprocket 50 fixed on a rotatable shaft 52 extending through the side frame F into a changegear box G, which is mounted on the outboard face of the side frame F. Also fixed on the shaft 52 within the change-gear box G is a pinion 54 which meshes with an interchangeable spur gear 56 fixed on a planetary shaft 58 which is rotatably supported near the outer end of a radial arm 60. The radial arm 6% is pivotally supported at its other end on a shaft 62, which extends through the side frame F and which is rotatably supported by bearings secured thereto. The outer end of the radial arm 60 is provided with an offset portion having an arcuate slot 66 formed therein, through which is received a stud bolt 64 projecting from the side frame F. The arcuate slot 66 is concentric with respect to the shaft 62, so that the radial arm 60 may be rotated about the shaft 62 to various positions in order to accommodate different sizes of interchangeable gears, and a nut 68 threaded on the stud bolt 64- permits the radial arm 60 to be secured in its adjusted position, at which the interchangeable gear then in use meshes with the pinion 54. As is well known, the size of the interchangeable gear 56 determines the speed at which the shaft 58 is driven, and changing of this gear permits speed variation within fairly wide limits.

Also fixed on the shaft 58 is a pinion 70 which meshes with. a large spur gear 72 fixed on the aforementioned shaft 62. This shaft 62 extends through the side frame F of the machine and has secured on its inner end the inner driving member of an overrunning clutch 74 (Figure 2). Integrally fixed on the outer driven member of the overrunning clutch 74 is a sprocket which engages a chain 82 which extends rearwardly of the machine and engages another sprocket 84 keyed to the rear shaft 86 on which the conveyor hand sprocket wheels W of the machineare fixed. It will thus be seen that whenever the motor M is running, it will drive the conveyor bands B of the machine at a basic speed determined by the particular interchangeable gear 56 which is then in use. The overrunning clutch 74 (Figure 2), however, will permit the conveyor bands B to be driven at speed in excess of this basic speed by means independent of the primary drive train.

In addition to the primary drive train, the motor M is also connected to drive the conveyor bands B through a secondary drive train which includes a double pulley 90 (shown in Figure 2) fixed on a shaft )2 extending from the other end of motor M. This double pulley 90 drives a pair of V-belts 94 which in turn drive a double pulley 96 which rotates freely on a jack shaft 98 rotatably supported on bearings 100 at the rear of the machine. A solenoid clutch 1&2 is also mounted on the jack shaft 98 and when this clutch 102 is engaged, the shaft 98 is caused to rotate with the pulley 96. This shaft 98 is connected through a conventional variable speed drive 104 (for example, a change-gear mechanism generally similar to that shown in G) with another shaft 106, on which is fixed a double pulley 110. This double pulley drives a pair of V-belts 112 which in turn drive a double pulley 114 fixed on an end of the aforementioned sprocket wheel drive shaft 86. The variable speed drive 104 is normally adjusted so that when the clutch 102 is engaged, the motor M will drive the conveyor bands B at a speed in excess of the basic speed at which they are driven through the primary drive train. When the secondary drive train is brought into operation by engagement of the clutch 102, the overrunning clutch 74 in the primary drive train automatically disengages to permit the conveyor bands B to be driven at the higher speed.

The clutch 102 is actuated by means of a conventional holding relay circuit under control of a momentary contact push-button switch 116 secured on a bracket 118 extending from the side frame F of the machine. The switch 116 is positioned for actuation by trip lugs 120 which are adjustably positioned along the left-hand conveyor band B. As is well understood, the connection of the relay circuit is such that alternate actuations of the switch 116 will cause engagement and disengagement of the clutch 102 and alternately throw the secondary drive train into and out of operation. The trip lugs 120 are so positioned as to cause the speed of the conveyor bands to be increased and decreased at the proper intervals for achieving the desired spacing of the staples driven into the continuously moving work.

It will therefore be appreciated that the mechanism disclosed enables a single wirebound box-making machine to produce box parts or complete wirebound box blanks having non-uniform staple spacing without limiting the speed of the machine to that dictated by the minimum staple spacing. It will therefore be understood that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved. However, it should be emphasized that the embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is intended as merely illustrative rather than as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. Means for driving the conveyor bands of a wirebound box making machine comprising motor means, a primary train of drive elements mechanically connecting said motor means to said conveyor bands, said primary drive train having such a drive ratio as to cause said motor means to drive said conveyor bands at a predetermined basic speed and including an over-running clutch permitting said conveyor bands to be driven independently of said primary drive train at speeds in excess of said basic speed, and a secondary train of drive elements mechanically connecting said motor means to said conveyor bands, said secondary drive train including a clutch for rendering said secondary drive train ineffective to drive said conveyor bands and at least one adjustable element giving said secondary drive train a variable drive ratio to permit variation of the speed at which said conveyor bands are driven by said secondary drive train within a range of speeds in excess of said basic speed.

2. Means for driving the conveyor bands of a wirebound box making machine comprising motor means, a primary train of drive elements mechanically connecting said motor means to said conveyor bands, said primary drive train having such-a drive ratio as to cause said motor means to drive said conveyor bands at a predetermined basic speed and including an overrunning clutch permitting said conveyor bands to be driven independently of said primary drive train at speeds in excess of said basic speed, and a secondary train of drive elements mechanically connecting said motor means to said conveyor bands, said secondary drive train having such a drive ratio as to drive said conveyor bands at a speed in excess of said basic speed and including a clutch for rendering said secondary drive train ineffective to drive said conveyor bands, switch means for controlling the latter said clutch, and adjustably positioned pattern elements mechanically connected to said motor means to be driven thereby in synchronism with said conveyor bands and adapted to actuate said switch at predetermined intervals according to the positioning of said pattern elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

